Rutland

ELLIS, Zenas H.

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 181

Zenas H. ELLIS, farmer, Fair Haven, was born 22 January 1860 at Fair Haven 
[Rutland County, Vermont], son of Zenas C. [Zenas Clark] and Sarah B. (DYER) 
ELLIS. His first ancestor to this country was Roger WILLIAMS, a Welshman, 
born 1606, who became the first governor of the Colony of Rhode Island; two 
of his great grandfathers were officers in the War of the American 
Revolution, and one of them [Barnabas ELLIS*] was with Ethan ALLEN at the 
capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. Zenas H. ELLIS graduated from Fair 
Haven High School in 1877, and Phillips Exeter Academy [Rockingham County, 
New Hampshire] in 1879. Director First National Bank, Fair Haven, since 
1886; vice president 1891-1899; president since 1909. Has traveled 
extensively in his own country, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Mexico and the 
Indies. Independent Republican; chairman Republican town committee 1902; 
represented Fair Haven in the Vermont Legislature, 1902; member of ways and 
means committee, and joint committee on temperance; chairman second 
independent state convention, 1906. Member of American Academy of Political 
and Social Science, National Geographic Society; Vermont Botanical Club, and 
Order of Colonial Governors.

[* Barnabas ELLIS, who was born 1745 at Gilead [Tolland County], Connecticut 
and died 1838 at Claremont [Sullivan County], New Hampshire, was married in 
1769 to Elizabeth SPENCER, and was a lieutenant under Ethan ALLEN at 
Ticonderoga. Zenas Clark ELLIS, son of Barnabas ELLIS, was born 25 July 1820 
at Fair Haven [Rutland County], Vermont, died 26 September 1883 at Fair 
Haven, Vermont, and was married 13 September 1847 at Rutland [Rutland 
County], Vermont, to Sarah Bowman DYER. Their son, Zenas H. ELLIS, was born 
22 January 1860 at Fair Haven, Vermont, and died 28 December 1944. The 
mother, Sarah Bowman DYER, was born 03 November 1821 at Rutland, Vermont, 
daughter of Edward DYER & Hannah HOXIE, and died 07 July 1876 at Rutland, 
Vermont. Bracketed material added by submitter to clarify information given 
in the biography. See DAR records for Barnabas ELLIS.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly